Glen Burnie

September 08, 1993

Woman, 20, raped in home by gunman

A man forced his way at gunpoint into the apartment of a 20-year-old Glen Burnie woman Saturday night, tried to choke her with a belt, knocked her unconscious and raped her, county police said yesterday.

The woman told police that a man knocked on her door in the Valley Brook Apartments shortly before 10 p.m. and forced his way past her when she opened it.

He pointed a handgun at the victim's head, forced her to lock the front door and then demanded various sex acts.

Police said the assailant tried to choke the woman with his belt but that she struggled. He then knocked her unconscious and raped her, police said.

The suspect was described as a black male, 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing about 175 pounds. He had brown eyes, short brown hair and was wearing a red, short-sleeved polo shirt, black jean shorts and red and white running shoes.

Chemical exposure slightly injures 2

Two people, including a Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. worker, suffered minor injuries Saturday morning when they were exposed to a chemical used for pest control.

Jeffrey Rich, who is in his 30s, and Robert Pelesky, the BG&E worker, were treated at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

The owner of the home, Charlotte Rich, called BG&E when she detected an odor. Mr. Pelesky came to the home and found that a can of insecticide had leaked. The owner then called the Fire Department.

Lt. Robert H. Kornmann, a Fire Department spokesman, said firefighters arrived at the home in the 8000 block of Fox Tail Lane about 8:30 a.m. and removed the can, which contained a spectracide chemical.

Arson suspected in fire at vacant house

Arson could be the cause of a one-alarm fire that destroyed an unoccupied home in Glen Burnie Monday night, fire officials said yesterday.

Firefighters arrived at the small home at the end of Nolberry Drive at 8:45 p.m. and found it in flames.

The fire was extinguished within one hour, said Lt. Robert H. Kornmann, a spokesman for the county Fire Department.

He said the home was a total loss and estimated damage at $10,000 to the building and $10,000 to its contents.

Lieutenant Kornmann said the cause of the blaze had not been determined but that it has been ruled suspicious. He said the home is owned by Raymond Hnat, who lives in Ellicott City.